A Mountain Folk School Christmas for Kids
December 19, 2009 ~ 1 pm to 3 pm ~ Free

Every year, Daddy Highlander (that's me,) and all the other Highlander family members head on over to the John C. Campbell Folk School, located in the town of Brasstown in Cherokee County, North Carolina.

The annual holiday, John C. Campbell Kid's Party was off to a great start, billed to have singing, dancing, story telling and ornament making.

As soon as we arrived we were guided down to the craft room where craft supplies were laid out for ornament making. Once completed, the children and adults were led up to the great hall for the celebration.

The old fashion Christmas music was great, all performed by members of the John C. Campbell extended family band. Volunteers helped move the festivities along as they began the celebration with musical chairs which was quite challenging with the number of children attending.

Next a solo accordion player took center floor while children and adults formed a huge circle. This circle of holiday fun filled souls played a game of follow the leader as the accordion player called out commands that were both fun and comical. They were up, they were down, and they were laughing all around.

Things got really hopping when the "Black Socks" Rapper Sword Dancers took to the floor, clicking their heels and toes to the melody of a fiddler dressed in Scottish attire. This was a real treat to behold; the climatic ending had us all out of breath just watching.

Stage two, same center floor, "Sticks in the Mud" Morris Dancers, move in and took over the room nearly filling the entire floor of the Keith House, dressed in their brightly colorful and comical attire. Like the precision of the previous "Black Socks" this group was highly charge in their comical and wonderfully entertaining dance routines, I loved the hats. They danced and spun across the floor forming circles and clanging their staffs (large walking sticks) to the rhythm of the band. This was a very exciting display and really had the audience clapping their hand and tapping their feet.

The Christmas program began to settle down when the sweet smile and gentle voice of story teller Lynday Hunicutt, stepped into the center of the room, calling all the children to sit down on the floor in the very heart of the great auditorium. Silence took over as she began weaving her favorite old holiday Christmas tale, using expressive speech, with large hand and arm gestures accompanied by sincere facial expressions as the children sat quietly, captivated by her tale of a Christmas past, a small pine tree, and a father's desire to bring Christmas joy, to his ailing child, us big kids found the tale fascinating as well.

The storytelling was followed by a talented duet singing Christmas songs. My favorite chorus from the medley was..."Merry Christmas Y'all, Merry Christmas Y'all, I knew before he closed his mouth, Santa Claus was from the south."

The festive atmosphere of the auditorium was suddenly jolted when a blast from the big red Brasstown Fire Department truck arrived at the door with the guest of honor in tow. Jolly Old Santa enter the hall for his command performance and was mobbed by all the children before taking his honorary seat next to the oversized Christmas Tree that was decorated in traditional hand made ornaments. Children lined up to await their shot at the royal lap, telling their wishes to the man with the magical bag.

After the youngest finished adding more wear to his lap, they were handed an orange and a candy cane before making their way over to the refreshments table where homemade cookies where being served. Enjoying a few cookies myself, I have to say they were delicious, and some of the cookies were glutton free, good thinking. I'm not ashamed to admit, I might have been the first one at the table getting my holiday treat and back again before I left.

After the little one's had their turn upon Santa's lap, some of the big girls, much too old to believe in Santa took a turn on his lap for a photo opportunity. It was both adorable and rather shameful to say the least.

A joyous wave from his large hand filled black glove, and he was off, riding his red chariot into the horizon while the siren blared, shouting, "Merry Christmas...Merry Christmas."

The Highlander highly recommends this event for kids of all age from Grandmas and Grandpas, Moms and Dads
down to the younger Kids.
A wonderful family event...join us in the mountains.

The Highlander